Device for cleaning an environment detection sensor

Abstract

Device (10) for cleaning an environment detection sensor (1), the device comprising at least one cleaning element (2) which is movable over a surface (3) of the environment detection sensor (1), wherein residues on the surface (3) of the environment detection sensor (1) are removed by the movement of the cleaning element (2).

Description

The invention relates to a device for cleaning a surroundings detection sensor.The following definitions, descriptions, and statements retain their respective meaning and apply to the entire disclosed subject matter.Various cleaning systems are known. For example, headlight cleaning systems for vehicles with stationary or telescopically extendable nozzle systems for distributing a cleaning liquid on the headlights. Cleaning systems with compressed air are also known. In addition to partially or fully automated cleaning systems, mechanical, manual cleaning methods are also known.Environment detection sensors, in particular environment detection sensors for automatically operable driving systems or vehicles, for example automated transport systems, shuttles, detect the environment of a system, for example a driving system. From the acquired data, a surroundings model is generated in the further processing chain of a driving system, for example a perception model, on the basis of which the driving system makes driving decisions. Environment detection sensors include, for example, camera, lidar, radar, acoustic and / or odor sensors. The environment detection sensors are exposed to environmental influences, for example dirt caused by driving water or dirt particles. One possibility, in particular in driving applications, of cleaning soiled environment detection sensors is the replacement of a soiled environment detection sensor with a new, clean environment detection sensor. This replacement, however, is time and cost-intensive, requires labor and material.It was the object of the invention to make possible simple cleaning for environment detection sensors, in particular without influencing the sensor performance during the cleaning process.The subject matter of the independent claim achieves this object. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are evident from the definitions, the subclaims, the drawings and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.According to one aspect, the invention provides a device for cleaning a surroundings detection sensor, for example a camera of an autonomously driving shuttle, passenger cars, commercial motor vehicle or rail vehicle. The device comprises at least one cleaning element which is movable over a surface of the environment detection sensor. The surface is a surface required for detecting the environment. For example, in a camera, the surface of the surroundings detection sensor is the surface of a camera lens. By the movement of the cleaning element, residues on the surface of the environment detection sensor are removed. The environment detection sensor is thus cleaned.In one aspect, the cleaning element is a tear-off film. Tear-off films are generally known, for example, for helmet visors. A plurality of such cleaning members, i.e., tear-off sheets, are layered over the surface of the environment detection sensor. The respective outer cleaning element with respect to the surface of the environment detection sensor can be torn off. Thus, if the outer tear-off film is soiled, it can be easily removed by the movement of tearing, so that a new, clean tear-off film forms the outer tear-off film. Tear-off films are advantageous, for example, for sensor arrangements which, owing to their arrangement, are difficult to access and thus make manual cleaning more difficult.According to a further aspect, the cleaning element is a slide valve. Shifters are generally known in the slide projector art. The slide valve comprises at least two surface regions movable over the surface of the environment detection sensor. For optical sensors, for example cameras, the surface areas are transparent. Furthermore, the slide valve comprises at least two positions. In a first position, a first surface region of the change slider is arranged above the surface of the environment detection sensor and a second surface region of the change slider is arranged outside a detection region of the environment detection sensor. In a second position, the second surface region is arranged above the surface of the environment detection sensor and the first surface region is arranged outside the detection region. In the first position, the first surface region is actively used as a type of protective layer for the environment detection sensor and is exposed to external influences and can become dirty. The second surface region is advantageously protected from soiling in this position. If the first surface region is now soiled, the slide is moved into the second position. The second, clean surface region is now no longer arranged passively, but is arranged actively above the surface of the environment detection sensor. The movement of the sliding of the change slider thus cleans the surface of the environment detection sensor.According to a further aspect, the surface region of the replaceable slide, which depending on the position of the replaceable slide is arranged in each case outside the detection region of the environment detection sensor, is designed for cleaning or replacement with a corresponding cleaned surface region. This means that cleaning and use of the surface regions as a protective layer for the environment detection sensor are not coupled to one another and therefore during the cleaning process as such no blockage of the environment detection sensor arises as a result of the detection region being covered with the cleaning agent. When using the device in or on a vehicle, according to a further aspect, the soiled surface regions of the change slider in the vehicle can be cleaned.According to a further aspect, the slide valve comprises three surface regions and can be moved correspondingly into three positions.According to a further aspect, the change-over slide is a long magazine or a round magazine, in which a plurality of surface regions are accommodated. The long magazine is arranged, for example, laterally of the environment detection sensor and is designed for automatic changing of the surface regions as a function of predeterminable time intervals or as a function of a degree of contamination of the surface regions. The round magazine is arranged, for example, on or under the environment detection sensor.According to a further aspect, the cleaning element is a cleaning film held on rollers, which is movable by rolling over the surface of the environment detection sensor. The movement of the rolling cleans the surface of the environment detection sensor. The rolling can be continuous or, if required.According to one aspect, an evaluation device, which evaluates the data of the environment detection sensor, detects the speed at which the cleaning film rolls off. As a result, residues on the cleaning film, for example dirt particles, can be easily detected because they move through the detection region of the environment detection sensor at the speed of the cleaning film.According to a further aspect, the device comprises a cleaning unit for the cleaning element, in particular for the rolling cleaning film, which can be continuously cleaned itself during continuous rolling.According to a further aspect, a rolling movement of the rollers is driven by the motor. For example, the rollers are driven by electric motors.The invention is explained with reference to the following working examples. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device disclosed here, FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a device disclosed here, and FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a device disclosed here.In the figures, like reference numerals designate like or functionally like items. In the figures, only the relevant objects are identified with reference numerals in each case in order to avoid repetitions.FIG. 1 shows the device 10 for cleaning an environment detection sensor 1 in the embodiment in which the cleaning element 2 is configured as a tear-off film 4, wherein a plurality of tear-off films 4, for example five, are arranged above a surface 3 of the environment detection sensor 1. The environment detection sensor 1 is, for example, a camera, for example, a camera of an autonomously driving vehicle, for example, a shuttle, for optically detecting the environment of the vehicle. The surface 3 is the surface of a camera lens which would be exposed to environmental influences without the cleaning elements.FIG. 2 shows the device 10 in the embodiment of a slide valve 5. the slide valve 5 has, for example, three positions, of which a first position 53 and a second position 54 are shown. Furthermore, the shuttle 5 has, for example, three surface regions, of which a first surface region 51 and a second surface region 52 are shown. In the first position 53, the surface 3 of the environment detection sensor 1 is covered by the first surface region 51, i.e. residues, for example dirt particles, collect on the first surface region 51 and not on the surface 3 of the environment detection sensor 1. In the second position 54, the surface 3 of the environment detection sensor 1 is covered by the clean second surface region 52, i.e. residues, for example dirt particles, collect on the second surface region 52 and not on the surface 3 of the environment detection sensor 1.FIG. 3 shows the device 10 in the embodiment of a cleaning foil 7 held on rollers 6. The device 10 also comprises a cleaning unit 8, by means of which the cleaning film 7 is automatically cleaned when rolling.Reference numerals denote reference numerals1 Environment detection sensor 2 Cleaning element 3 Surface 4 Tear-off film 5 Replaceable slide 51, 52 Surface region 53, 54 Position 6 Roller 7 Cleaning film 8 Cleaning unit

Claims

Device (10) for cleaning an environment detection sensor (1), the device comprising at least one cleaning element (2) which is movable over a surface (3) of the environment detection sensor (1), wherein residues on the surface (3) of the environment detection sensor (1) are removed by the movement of the cleaning element (2).Device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element (2) is a tear-off foil (4) and a plurality of such cleaning elements (2) are arranged in a layered manner above the surface (3) of the environment detection sensor (1) and the cleaning element (2) which is in each case outer with respect to the surface (1) can be torn off.Device (10) according to Claim 1, wherein the cleaning element (2) is a slide valve (5), the slide valve (5) comprises at least two surface regions (51, 52) which can be moved over the surface (3) of the environment detection sensor (1) and at least two positions (53, 54), wherein in a first position (53) a first surface region (51) of the slide valve (5) is arranged over the surface (3) of the environment detection sensor (1) and a second surface region (52) of the slide valve (5) is arranged outside a detection region of the environment detection sensor (1) and in a second position (54) the second surface region (52) is arranged over the surface (3) of the environment detection sensor (1) and the first surface region (51) is arranged outside the detection region.Device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the surface region (51, 52) of the change slide (5), which depending on the position (53, 54) of the change slide (5) is respectively arranged outside the detection region of the environment detection sensor (1), is configured for cleaning or exchanging with a corresponding cleaned surface region (51, 52).Device (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the slide (5) is a long magazine or a round magazine, in which a plurality of surface regions (51, 52) are accommodated.Device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element (2) is a cleaning film (7) held on rollers (6) which is movable by rolling over the surface (3) of the environment detection sensor (1).Device (10) according to claim 6, comprising an evaluation device which evaluates data from the environment detection sensor and detects the speed at which the cleaning film rolls off.Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a cleaning unit (8) for the cleaning element (2).The apparatus (10) of claim 6, 7 or claim 8, wherein rolling motion of the rollers (6) is motor driven.

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